The Maryland State Board of Education voted 12-2 today to rescind its statewide mask mandate for public schools, effective March 1. This will allow local school districts to decide their own masking policies.
The Montgomery County Board of Education is set to take up the school system’s mask policy at a meeting on February 24.
Governor Larry Hogan today issued the following statement after the State Board of Education voted:
“I want to thank the State Board of Education for heeding our call to rescind its school mask policy. This action aligns with the data and the science, the recommendation of the State Superintendent of Schools, and the guidance of medical professionals across the country.
“I also want to express my sincere appreciation to all the parents who have spoken out in recent weeks. At a time when Maryland has the lowest COVID-19 metrics in the country, this is a major step for normalcy and the well-being of our students.
“The General Assembly must now act swiftly to ratify the State Board’s decision.”
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